Undiergarment



April 1950 E. A. ROCKWELL 2,503,636

' UNDERGARMENT Filed March 27, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 EiLEENA. ROCKWELL Gltovncu 7 29 Bmwmcr April 11, 1950 EA. ROCKWELL 2,503,636

UNDERGIARMENT Filed March 27, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Iigf-l Inventor EILEEN RUBKWELL W h/(vF/ Patented Apr. 11, 1950 UNDERGARMENT Eileen A. Rockwell, Bridgeport, Conn., assignor to The La Resista Corset Company, Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application March 2'7, 1947, Serial No. 737,512

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to an undergarment, particularly a ladys body controlling foundation garment of bifurcated type. The invention may be incorporated in either a girdle type of garment, Or in a foundation slip type of garment, the latter including an upper brassiere portion, a lower skirt portion, and elastic body moulding sections, giving to such garment the characteristics of a body controlling foundation garment.

It is particularly proposed to provide a garment which maintains the body moulding and freedom characteristics of a non-bifurcated type of foundation garment or foundation slip, and in which the smooth relatively flat appearance of such garments is maintained while at the same time incorporating therein the advantages of a bifurcated or pants form of garment, to the end that the single garment provides complete undergarment coverage for the wearer, and the outer garments worn over the undergarment will hang in a smooth straight line, without the tendency to cling to the back leg sections and cup in below the buttocks, as is the case with the usual type of bifurcated garment.

A further object is to provide an undergarment of bifurcated type in which the tendency to bind, draw, and twist, usually present in the conventional type of bifurcated garment, is minimized, it being particularly proposed to provide a crotch member separately formed from the remainder of the garment and connected thereto in such manner that the crotch member conforms to the body and yields to strain imposed thereon independently of the remainder of the garment. Another object is to provide a crotch member which may be formed of relatively soft, nonirritating material, and having only a slight degree of yieldability to engage the body without undue strain or chafing, and wherein means is provided whereby a substantially high degree of yieldability is maintained between the crotch member and the body of the garment to compensate for strain due to assuming different positions. The latter object is accomplished through the medium of elastic suspension memmember of relatively flat form so that such means wi11 not irritate the body or produce bulges on the exterior of the garment.

Another object is to provide a crotch member separately formed from the body of the garment and which terminates at its rearward edge forwardly of the rearward part of the body portion of the garment, so that there is no overlapping or frictional contact between the crotch member and the rearward part of the garment, thereby permitting free and independent movement of the crotch member and adding greatly to the comfort of the wearer and to the smoothness of the garment.

Another object is to provide a crotch member which, by virtue of the forward spacing of its rearward edge from the rearward part of the body portion of the garment and the elastic suspension means, permits the crotch member to be conveniently drawn forwardly for sanitary purposes.

With the above and other objects in view, embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanyin drawings, and these embodiments will be hereinafter more fully described with reference thereto, and the invention will be finally pointed in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a girdle type of foundation garment, according to one illustrated embodiment of the invention, a portion of the body of the garment being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation, a portion of the garment being broken away.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the crotch member, detached from the garment.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view, taken along the line 5--5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional View similar to Fig. 5, and showing the crotch member drawn forwardly.

Fig. 7 is a detailed front elevation of one of the detachable connection means for attacihng the crotch member.

Fig. 8 is a sectional View, taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a front elevation of a foundation slip type of garment, according to another embodiment of the invention, a portion of the garment being broken away.

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view, taken along the line ll]|l] of Fig. 9.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 8 thereof, the embodiment of the invention shown therein comprises a foundation girdle body part consisting of a front panel 10 of non-elastic material provided centrally of its upwardly arched lower edge with a v-shape horizontally elastic gusset insert 1 l, and provided adjacent one side edge with a vertically disposed zipper type of fastener 12 for opening and closing the upper portion of the garment. To the side edges of front panel there are secured horizontally elastic side sections l3l3, to the rearward edges of which there are secured the side edges of a non-elastic back panel 14, preferably having a horizontally elastic insert l5 centrally of its upper edge.

The crotch member is preferably constructed of a relatively thin, soft, woven fabric, such for instance as finely woven Jersey cloth, so woven that it has slightly greater stretch in one direction than the other, and consists of a forward portion 16 arranged so that the stretch is crosswise, an intermediate portion l'l arranged so that the stretch is longitudinal, and a rearward portion 18 arranged so that the stretch is crosswise, the forward portion being connected to the rearward portion by a V-shape seam it, pointing toward the forward edge, and the intermediate portion being connected to the rearward portion by a V-shape seam 2i], pointing toward the rearward edge. The crotch member may be of single or plural thickness, as desired. The forward edge 2| of the forward portion lfiis in a substantially horizontal line, and is relatively wider than the rearward edge 22 of the rearward portion 13, which is also in asu-bstantially horizontal line, the side edges 23-43 of the member being curved inwardly between the wide forward edge and the narrow rearward edge.

The forward edge 2| of the crotch member is provided at suitably spaced points with loop members 24 formed of fabric tape or the like, and these are adapted to be detachably connected to the inner side of the forward panel ill) of the garment at points in substantially lateral line with the upper end of the gusset insert ll by means of hook members 25 secured to the panel Iii by looped tape connections 26. members 25 are of relatively light, flat construction, preferably formed of plastic or other similar material, and have a slot opening El in their upper end in which the loop 26 is engaged, the lower side of this slot having an entrance cutout 28 which enables the hook member to be readily engaged with or detached from the loop 26. The loops 24 are readily hooked upon the hook members and are effectually retained thereon through "the downward pull of the loop mem bers. Thus, a very flat connection means is providedfor the crotch member and the latter may be readily detached when desired for the purpose of replacement or laundering. Also, the hook members 2-5 may be readily detached from the loop members 26.

While the forward portion of the crotch member extends to a relatively high point within the forward panel of the foundation girdle, the rearward edge only extends a relatively short distance up into the garment and is spaced from the central area of the back panel 14 in the position of the garment when being worn, being connected to the garment by longitudinally elastic O The hook tape members 29-29, which diverge outwardly in substantial continuation of the side edges 23, and which are provided with loop ends 39 detachably connected to hook members 25 provided interially at each of the side edges of the back panel at points substantially in lateral line with the connection points of the forward edge 2|. These tape members, in the position of the garment when being Worn, lie fiat upon and extend upwardly about the buttocks part of the body, and are under suflicient tension to maintain the crotch member in smooth fitting relation.

In walking, climbing, bending and sitting postures", the elastic tape'members will stretch with the lengthening and shortening of the body lines, while the back panel l4 remains substantially fixed with respect to the waist and hips, and consequently strain upon the crotch member and the tendency to bind, draw, and twist is largel eliminated. As illustrated in Fig. 6, the rearward edge of the crotch member may be grasped centrally and drawn forwardly for sanitary purposes, the elastic tape members being stretched forwardly about the thighs.

In Figs. 9 and 10 there is illustrated a modified form of the invention in which the crotch memher is incorporated in a foundation slip type of garment. This garment comprises a front panel 38 extending the full length of the garment, brassiere pocket portions 3232 being provided at its upper end, and an inner-liner front panel 33 secured at its side edges to the side edges of the panel 3i and having its lower edge upwardly spaced from the lower end of the skirt portion of the panel 3!. A V-shaped horizontally elastic gusset insert 34 is provided centrally in the lower edge of the inner-liner 33, and at its upper edge is provided with cut-outs 35-445 conforming to the outlines of the brassiere pockets, a central suspension portion 3% between the cut-outs being secured to the upper edge of the brassiere portion.

Side sections are secured to the side edges of the front panel and inner-liner, each consisting of an upper non-elastic portion 31, an intermediate horizontally elastic portion 35, and a lower skirt portion 39. To the rearward edges of the side sections there is secured a back panel portion til extending the full length of the garment and a back inner liner portion ll having its lower edge in line with the lower edge of the elastic side portion 38 and provided in its upper portion with an elastic insert band 42. The side edge of the front panel at one side is connected for a portion of its length to the side section by separable fastener means, hook and eye fasteners '43 being provided along the upper side portion and a zipper type fastener Ml being provided along the elastic side portion 38. Shoulder straps 45 45 extend from the brassiere part to the upper edge of the back panel.

The inner-liners 33 andll, and the elastic side portions 38 incorporate in the foundation slip a body moulding girdle structure, substantially corresponding to the girdle structure illustrated in the first embodiment of the .invention, and the crotch member is incorporated therein in substantially the same manner as in'the first rembodiment, its forward edge being connected by asoacse I have illustrated and described preferred and satisfactory embodiments of the invention, but it will be understood that changes may be made therein, within the spirit and scope thereof, as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an undergarment, a body encircling body member having a front section, side sections, and a back section, the lower edge of said body member being circumferentially continuous, a crotch member extending upwardly at its forward edge within said front section and connected thereto in upwardly spaced relation to the lower edge of said front section, its rearward edge extending upwardly into said body member the portion of said front section below the point of connection of said crotch member thereto being free of attachment to said crotch member and a pair of upwardly divergent elastic suspension tape members connected between laterally spaced points of the rearward edge of said crotch member and laterally spaced points of the inner side of said back section in upwardly spaced relation to the lower edge of said back section, said suspension tape members being of such length as to be stretchable forwardly to permit the rearward edge of said crotch member to be drawn forwardly approximately to said front section.

2. In an undergarment, a body encircling body member having a front section, side sections, and a back section, the lower edge of said body member being circumferentially continuous a crotch member extending upwardly at its forward edge within said front section and connected thereto in upwardly spaced relation to the lower edge of said front section, its rearward edge extending upwardly into said body member and being forwardly spaced from said back section, the portion of said front section below the point of connection of said crotch member thereto being free of attachment to'said crotch memher and a pair of upwardl divergent elastic suspension tape members connected between laterally spaced points of the rearward edge of said crotch member and laterally spaced points of the inner side of said back section in upwardly spaced relation to the lower edge of said back section, said suspension tape members being of such length as to be stretchable forwardly to permit the rearward edge of said crotch member to be drawn forwardly approximately to said front section.

3. In an undergarment, a body encircling body member having a front section, side sections, and a back section, a crotch member formed of woven material having relatively greater stretch in one direction than the other, and including forward and rearward transverse portions having greater stretch crosswise, and an intermediate portion having greater stretch longitudinally, said crotch member extending upwardly at its forward edge within said front section and connected thereto in upwardly spaced relation to the lower edge of said front section, the portion of said front section below the point of connection of said crotch member thereto being free of attachment to said crotch member and elastic suspension tape members connected between the rearward edge of said crotch member and the inner side of said back section in upwardly spaced relation to the lower edge of said back section.

EILEEN A. ROCKWELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,560,890 Whitlock Nov. 10, 1925 1,636,516 Kops July 19, 1927 2,246,714 Blair June 24, 1941 2,323,451 Bullinger July 6, 19%3 

